Hello LinkedIn Friends, I’m excited to share that I recently accepted a new position starting in early January! I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me—your help made it possible to go from my last day at work to receiving an offer in just one month to the day! I’d also like to share what worked for me during my job search, hoping it might help others. I’m not claiming to be an expert, but these steps were effective for me: 1. Mindset Matters Most Losing a job is tough—I felt denial, anger, and confusion, especially being let go at year-end. (much like the grieving process) But I quickly realized that holding onto this would turn to bitterness or blaming others would hurt my health, relationships, and interview performance. A positive, forward-thinking mindset was critical to my success. 2. Define Your Next Role Take time to reflect: What job titles excite you? What did you like (or not like) about your previous position? Setting clear goals helped me focus my search. 3. Leverage Direct Connections Networking was key. My new role came through a past colleague's recommendation. I reached out to first-degree connections via calls, texts, and LinkedIn, asking if they could connect me with others in their network. Networking can feel uncomfortable, but stepping out of your comfort zone is essential. 4. Use LinkedIn Premium ( no they didn't pay me to say that ) I invested in the $180/year LinkedIn Premium Career upgrade, and the AI tools were game-changers: Tailored job matches: Recommendations aligned with my preferences. Resume updates: AI helped refine my resume for specific job applications. Cover letters: AI drafted custom letters when required. Profile suggestions: Improved taglines and highlights. Be prepared to filter spam initially, but the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. There was definitely a higher response rate leading to interviews than I have ever had. 5. Embrace AI Companies are using AI for screening—use it to your advantage! For one interview, I completed a video screening where AI evaluated my responses and I used AI to help create concise answers and made it to next round! AI tools can help level the playing field for candidates. 6. Stay Active on LinkedIn Posting weekly helped keep me visible. Share authentic, relatable content, avoiding divisive topics. Even personal stories can tie back to professional insights. I try to put a fun picture in as it seems to get more reactions :) 7. Prioritize Self-Care Job hunting can be all-consuming, but balance is essential. I exercised walking my dogs, spent time with loved ones, did volunteer work, and even treated myself to massages. Fishing anyone? Taking breaks helped me stay energized and focused. Finally, lean on your support system. My “band of brothers” provided encouragement when I needed it most. To anyone searching for a new opportunity: You’ve got this! I hope these tips help. Feel free to reach out—I’m happy to share more about my journey.
Congratulations, Rajan! I’m thrilled to hear about your new opportunity and admire the positivity and focus you’ve maintained through the journey getting there. Your tips are inspiring and resonate deeply — especially the importance of mindset and leveraging networking. It was a privilege working with you at umlaut, and I’m confident your new team will quickly see the great value you bring. Wishing you all the best in this exciting new chapter!
Many congratulations sir! 🎉
Well done, Rajan. Great news. And I didn't know you were a fly fisherman, too. We'll have to talk flies and fishing at our next get-together.
Thanks for sharing such a positive feel-good turnaround update Rajan Dass. Wishing you the very best in your new journey.
Congrats on the new job. Hopefully many people read your suggestions below.
Wish you all the best
Best of success dear friend!